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ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
Sam Cotten, Commissioner

DIVISION OF SPORT FISH
Tom Brookover, Director

Contact:
Bob Chadwick
SE Regional Management Coordinator
Phone: 907-747-5355

April 20, 2015

FILLETING AND DE-HEADING OF LINGCOD, KING AND COHO SALMON, AND NONPELAGIC ROCKFISH PROHIBITED IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA SPORT FISHERIES

Marine boat anglers returning to ports where and when on-site ADF&G creel surveys are conducted will be prohibited from filleting, mutilating, and de-heading sport caught lingcod, nonpelagic rockfish, and king and coho salmon.  Marine boat anglers returning to any port on the road system of the communities listed below, during the times designated, may not fillet, mutilate, or de-head these fish until the fish have been brought to shore and offloaded, unless the fish have been consumed or preserved on board:


Ketchikan: 12:01 a.m. Monday, April 27, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, September 13, 2015.
Craig: 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 4, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 30, 2015.
Klawock: 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 4, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 30, 2015.
Sitka: 12:01 a.m. Monday, April 27, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, September 13, 2015.
Juneau: 12:01 a.m. Monday, April 27, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, September 13, 2015.
Petersburg: 12:01 a.m. Monday, April 27, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 30, 2015.
Wrangell: 12:01 a.m. Monday, April 27, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 30, 2015.
Haines: 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 11, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 28, 2015.
Skagway: 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 25, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 30, 2015.
Gustavus: 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 4, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 30, 2015.
Elfin Cove: 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 4, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 30, 2015.
Yakutat: 12:01 a.m. Monday, April 27, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 30, 2015.


The purpose of this restriction is to maximize information obtained through ADF&G angler interview and dockside sampling programs.   Southeast Alaska management plans adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries require length and sex information for lingcod, length information for nonpelagic rockfish, and identification of tagged king and coho salmon, which can only be obtained when fish are intact. On-site sampling is conducted during the fishing season at many harbors to estimate sport fishing effort and harvest, and contribution of hatchery and wild stocks of king and coho salmon to regional sport fisheries. 
This action does not prohibit gutting and gilling fish before returning to port.  Anglers may fillet and head king and coho salmon, lingcod, and nonpelagic rockfish on board a vessel once it is tied up at a docking facility where the fish will be offloaded.  For further information, contact the nearest ADF&G office or visit: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSportFishingInfo.eonr